Foz do Iguaçu airport upgrade advances ahead of auctions

The federally-funded 32.7mn-real (US$8.53mn) upgrade of Foz do Iguaçu airport in Brazil’s Paraná state is 56.2% complete. 

Starting in June 2018, works have been part of the government’s effort to improve regional airports and attract more interest for upcoming auctions.

"Foz do Iguaçu is an important destination for Brazil, because it attracts tourists from all over the world. By the end of the year, we will come here again to deliver the totality of the works. Next year, we will be here with the auction of the sixth round of concessions,” Ronei Saggioro Glanzmann, secretary of the civil aviation authority, said.

AUCTIONS

Auctioning 12 regional airports in March brought the government much more than expected. It set the minimum at 219mn reais but raised 2.38bn reais.

Betting on a repeat of that success, the government plans to offer concessions for 22 airports, including Foz do Iguaçu, in the next round scheduled for 2020.

In that auction, the government will offer airports in blocks, covering the south, north and central regions. Each block will contain more and less profitable airports.

The south block, along with Foz do Iguaçu, will also contain Curitiba, Londrina and Bacacheri in Paraná state; Navegantes and Joinville in Santa Catarina; and Pelotas, Uruguaiana and Bagé in Rio Grande do Sul.